Alma coach announces retirement

Jim Cole has announced his retirement as head coach of the Alma
football team. Cole, who just finished his 21st year at the helm of
the program, will remain with the college in a continuing teaching
and administrative role.

The Scots were 2-8 this past season, the team's fewest wins
since a 2-7 season in 1993.

“I entered Alma College as a freshman in 1970 and have been
blessed with my association with this place,” said Cole.
“I will always treasure my relationships with my players and
colleagues. I will continue to celebrate the accomplishments and
nurture the dreams and goals of the Alma student-athletes and work
to further the mission of Alma College in new and different
ways.”

Cole, named Alma’s head football coach in 1991, achieved an
overall record of 114-90. He earned his 100th coaching win on Sept.
6, 2008, when Alma defeated Bluffton 49-0 at Bahlke Field. His 21
years as head coach is the third-longest tenure of any football
coach in MIAA history. His 30 years on the Alma sidelines as an
assistant and head coach is the longest stint at the same school of
any active collegiate coach in Michigan.

“Jim Cole has had an outstanding run as head coach of our
football program,” said Alma president Jeff Abernathy.
“I am grateful for his service to the college and community.
Coach Cole has taught generations of young men the value of
teamwork and leadership, and his legacy will live long at Alma
College and in all of the alumni he has helped to learn and grow
here at the college.”

In 2004, Cole led the Scots to the MIAA title and a berth in the
NCAA Division III national playoffs, the second time in three years
the Maroon and Cream advanced to the NCAA postseason.

Cole also led the Scots to MIAA titles and berths in the NCAA
Division III national playoffs in 2002 and 1999. The 1999 squad was
the first Scots team in school history to advance to the NCAA
Division III playoff.

Three Scots won MIAA Most Valuable Player awards during
Cole’s years as head coach. In addition, Alma
student-athletes won the Pete Schmidt Memorial Scholar-Athlete
Award in two out of the 10 years the award has been given out.
Several other players were honored as Academic All-Americans and
NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winners.

A former All-MIAA and All-District quarterback for the Scots, Cole
drew on the championship experiences of playing for the 1970,
’71 and ’72 MIAA co-champions and coaching the 1988
co-champ’s defense. He was a graduate assistant for Central
Michigan’s 1974 national championship team and a volunteer
coach during the Chippewas’ 1990 Mid-America Conference title
run. His women’s track teams at Alma won or shared seven
consecutive MIAA titles from 1985-91.